Shanghai & the Yangzi Region - Discover China - page 514

Hangzhou ¥100, 3½ hours, seven daily
Shanghai ¥140, 6½ hours, five daily
Yixian ¥15, one hour, four daily (stops at Hongcun and Xidi)
Getting Around
Official tourist shuttles run between the two long-distance bus stations and the
hot springs area Offline map Google map (¥7) , Yungu Station Offline map
Google map ( Yungu Zhan; eastern steps; ¥13) and Mercy Light Temple Sta-
tion Offline map Google map ( Ciguangge Zhan; western steps; ¥13) . Officially
they depart every 20 minutes from 6am to 5.30pm, though they usually wait
until enough people are on board. Taking a taxi to the eastern or western steps
will cost ¥50; to the hot springs area it is ¥30.
Wuyuan
0793 / POP 81,200
The countryside around Wuyuan is home to some of southeastern China's
most immaculate views. Parcelled away in this hilly pocket is a scattered
cluster of picturesque Huizhou villages, where old China remains preserved in
enticing panoramas of ancient bridges, glittering rivers and stone-flagged al-
leyways.
Despite lending its name to the entire area, Wuyuan itself is a far-from-
graceful town and most travellers will need no excuses before immersing
themselves in the region's tantalising bucolic charms way out beyond the
shabby suburbs.